ROCK HILL — The Hamaspik Resort in Rock Hill initially  operated as a private hotel used by those associated with the New York State Hamaspik Association (NYSHA), but it is now also open to the public for part of the week.

The project went before the Thompson Planning Board on April 13 to discuss the new location of a recreational building and pool that will be constructed behind the hotel’s main building along Rock Hill Drive.

The proposed 37,000 square-foot  recreational building would be used for classrooms, an indoor sports arena, and an additional shul and mikveh.

The multi-use property plans to function as a hotel during the winter months, and as a sleepaway camp during the summer  that will cater to individuals who are “diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, behavior disorders, brain injury [who] will have the opportunity to enjoy a summer camp catered to their needs,” according to the operation plan.

Once the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) are completed, they will be reviewed by the Thompson Town Engineer, according to the project memo.

The planning board said they would like the Rock Hill Fire Department to sign off on the new site plans as concerns were brought up if there was enough room for the emergency personnel to reach the rear of the hotel.

Thompson Planning Board also requested that the traffic consultant use data collected more recently, as the study that was done was using data from 2019.

Thompson Planning Board member Michael Hoyt said that the traffic has changed in the past two years in Rock Hill, and he was concerned the camp, with the hotel, would cause more traffic.

The applicants claim the 2019 impact study said traffic wouldn’t increase from what it was when the hotel operated as The Sullivan.

Furthermore, the applicant said when the sleepaway camp is in operation, campers would be “bussed” using specialty vans and not actual school bus type of vehicles.

Another concern that was brought up at the public hearing and from the Thompson Planning board was if the  sleepaway camp on the main road in Rock Hill would be out of character for the hamlet.

The applicant replied in a letter to the Thompson Planning Board, “There is another camp down the road on Bowers Rd. (Iroquois Springs), which does not seem to have any effect on the value or character of the neighborhood.”

The proposed recreational building would be visible from the road and the hotel’s parking lot.

According to the applicant’s rendering, the 37,000-square-foot building would be light in color with a stone wall with many windows and a black roof.

The Thompson Planning Board asked the applicant if they could update the renderings, so the building fit in more with “the community” of Rock Hill. The Cardinal Square, where the Rock Hill Pharmacy is located, was given as an example.

The board hopes these changes will be made before appearing at the Thompson Planning Board meeting in the future.